By James Bailey
The National League may have more “name” Rookie of the Year candidates to choose from than the American League, but the race is just as wide open here. In fact, much like the AL, the top candidate in the Senior Circuit is a late bloomer who owes his opportunity to an injury.
Brian Barden, who has seen action at third base for the Cardinals in the absence of injured Troy Glaus, was honored by the NL as its rookie of the month for April. The 28-year-old is hitting .333 with eight runs and seven RBIs, but only has 45 at-bats. Despite his limited playing time he leads all NL rookies in home runs with three.
A pair of Nationals pitchers are laying the groundwork for possible ROY runs. Jordan Zimmermann opened the year in Triple-A because the team didn’t need a fifth starter until late April. In three starts he’s gone 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA and has struck out 14 in 17 innings. Shairon Martis, a 22-year-old righthander, is 3-0 with a 4.60 ERA in five starts. He tossed a complete game against the Cardinals in his last start, holding St. Louis to one run.
Colby Rasmus was responsible for that tally, as he slammed his only homer of the year to break up Martis’ shutout in the seventh. Rasmus is as strong a contender as anyone else, hitting .269 with six RBIs through 67 at-bats. The 22-year-old has also scored 15 runs, thanks in part to a solid .367 on-base percentage. He’s one of four center fielders in the conversation.
Rockies leadoff man Dexter Fowler has stolen nine bases, including five in one game against the Padres, but is hitting just .256 with two homers and seven RBIs. Fowler, 23, has scored 12 runs.
Cameron Maybin, 22, hit .500 in 32 at-bats for the Marlins last September, but he’s struggling thus far in ’09. Maybin’s batting just .208 with a homer and three RBIs and has struck out 29 times in 77 at-bats.
Jordan Schafer got off to a scorching start for the Braves, homering in his first big league at-bat on Opening Day. He started the season 8-for-19, but is batting just .185 since. In fact, Shafer hasn’t had a home run or RBI since April 8. On the year he’s batting .238 with two homers and three RBIs in 84 at-bats.
Reds left fielder Chris Dickerson hit .304 in 102 at-bats last year, but he’s batting just .217 with a homer and five RBIs through 58 at-bats. Giants first baseman Travis Ishikawa, who is starting most of the time, is batting .210 with nine RBIs and has yet to homer in 62 at-bats.
Cubs first baseman/outfielder Micah Hoffpauir is hitting .300 with two homers and eight RBIs in 40 at-bats. When he’s played, he’s hit in the heart of the order, but the Cubs have a strong enough lineup that he’s had a tough time getting in there on a regular basis.
Pirates catcher Jason Jaramillo is getting a chance to play due to Ryan Doumit’s injury. Jaramillo is batting .310 with seven doubles and five RBIs in 42 at-bats.
Phillies lefthander J.A. Happ has worked exclusively out of the bullpen, but when the brass tires of Chan Ho Park, he could move into the rotation. Happ has gone 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA in nine outings, covering 15 1/3 innings.
Other rookie pitchers of note include James McDonald and Ronald Belisario of the Dodgers, and Felipe Paulino of the Astros. The highly regarded McDonald is 1-1 with an 8.16 ERA after five games. Belisario has been much better. He’s quickly developing into a quality setup man for Los Angeles with a 3.12 ERA in 14 games. In his first 17 innings he’s allowed 14 hits and seven walks and struck out 20. He fanned the side in his only inning Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks. Paulino, who missed 2008 due to injury, is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five games. The 25-year-old righthander made three starts in April, but has since shifted to the bullpen.
